I will be buying exactly none. If Kato is struggling to come up with new roadnames for their F7, some suggestions would include: Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Erie Lehigh Valley New York Central Reading
I'm not sure why you would suggest that Kato is struggling to come up with new roadnames. They know what sells, and ATSF is likely at or near the top of the list. I'm not an ATSF modeler, but certainly understand the road's appeal.
This is indeed big news! Since I have the Yellow Bonnet A&B, this is perfect that they offer a Blue Bonnet A&B. I am stoked over this.
The single headlight A unit has not been produced in ages. And I just painted up an A-B set to go with the one I already had. That's my luck for you.
Erie Lehigh Valley New York Central Reading does not sell santa fe, southern pacifc ,union pacific sells
And that's the real issue. A single headlight A unit shell has to be tooled up because the original molds from 25-odd years ago are no longer usable.
Maybe so. However, while molded on grab irons don't really bug me, I can spot decal film from the proverbial mile away - no matter how much dullcote/glosscoat/whatever-coat has been applied. I'll willing wait for the factory painted/printed version.
Can there be that much less demand for a DL&W, Erie, LV, NYC or RDG F7 than there is/was for a RI or ACL F2? Certainly there must be other customers for whom ATSF, SP and UP hold no appeal.
They must have retooled one then because they specifically call it out in the ad above. Which means other roads will follow with single headlights. Yippie.
Got to get me some, ABBA. I wonder how long it has been since the single headlamp F's have been produced by Kato?
This always gets asked, I'll preempt the question: http://www.atsfrr.com/resources/fun...cal & Modeling Society - The F-Unit Pages.htm Only seven locomotives ever got that 'bluebonnet' scheme. "Seven F7As were painted - 325L, 327L, 329L, 332L, 335L, 338L and 343L - with variations of nose stripes and emblems applied to them. The F7A paint scheme replaced the original red Warbonnet with freight blue retaining the Warbonnet design, silver painted and stainless steel sides, the yellow "cigar-band" Santa Fe nose emblem with the black outline and five-inch "SANTA FE" letters on the carbody sides. The F7A variations were mostly in the nose vertical yellow stripe above and below the Santa Fe "cigar-band" nose emblem, and color of the front anticlimber above the pilot that wrapped around the nose of the F7A. The 325L did not have the two vertical blue nose stripes between the nose door headlight and Mars light, and it had a blue painted anti-climber. The 327L and 335L had a yellow anticlimber while the 329L, 332L, 338L and 343L had black painted anticlimbers. The 338L had yellow nose side ladder grabs as the other six all had blue. The 335L and 338L had yellow painted eyebrow grabs while the other five were all painted blue. The 343L's "Bluebonnet" paint scheme varied the most from the other six. The 343L did not have the outer black separation stripe along the Warbonnet contour or above the stainless steel frame sidesill, the black outline around the Santa Fe cigar-band nose emblem, the two vertical blue stripes between the nose door headlight and Mars light or below the Santa Fe "cigar-band" nose emblem. Seventeen F7Bs received a blue stripe which replaced the red, and both ends of the unit were painted blue. The 6-foot long Santa Fe Indian head medallion was not present on any of the 17 F7Bs, but the "SANTA FE" letters were applied offset toward the rear of the unit - applied to B-units beginning in early 1954. The carbody side hand railings were all painted yellow. The trucks, fuel tank, frame sidesill steps and A-unit front pilot were painted black rather than silver. These units all have blue ends. " So yeah, they are cool, not a foobie, they were not used in passenger, and they didn't last long, either, due to the CF7 program. And there was enough variation between individual units to make ya nuts.
Yeah, it figures... I decided the only way to get a Bluebonnet F7 was to buy the set when it came out so I did. So of course having made this decision they elected to sell them individually. Apparently you all have me to thank for them releasing them at this time. You're welcome!
Either it has been retooled or it will happened sometime between now and December. There's hope yet for the fans of roads that only had the single-headlight version.
after much searching and dealing, just this last year, I have acquired 3 LABC sets of the original release units, plus an extra A unit....so, of course, it figures that they've finally retooled the shell and are releasing them again, probably with updated paint to include builders plates, kick plates, and the new lit and numbered numberboards...not to worry, I'm finding I actually like the older. HEAVY mechanisms...they pull like nobody's business! On another note...has the Bluebonnet A unit EVER been released apart from the freight set?...and has Kato EVER released the B unit in the bluebonnet scheme, until this announcement? Bruce
Sounds like you and Russell are in a tie for who gets the credit for Kato releasing these. Question for the ATSF guys: Is there any difference, other than coloring, between the yellow bonnet and blue bonnet schemes? If not, then I'm guessing that Kato's cost to release this version are minimal, as the same masks/etc. could be reused with only a color change.
